Hey! I am back!

I am so o sorry this took so long and that this chapter is so short and not very good I have had major writers block with the labour and birth scenes, hopefully everything will be back to normal once we get past those scenes. Please bear with me :D and sorry for the low quality of the chapter after re writing it 3 times I realized it wouldn't get any better than this.

"Who's ready to have a baby?" Judy asked smiling.

Mary looked at Marshall, biting her lip nervously.

"You're ready Mare, you can do this" Marshall couldn't hold back the excitement from his voice, nor the smile that pulled at his lips.

"That's easy for you to say! You don't have to push a baby out of your vag…aauugh.." Mary didn't have a chance to finish her sentence as more pain rippled through her abdomen.

"Just breathe through it Mary, breathe in and out"

"Would you shut your trap!" Mary snapped at Marshall. "Its. Not. Helping! Someone give me a god damn epidural!" Mary demanded loudly, plunging her fist into the hospital mattress, to emphasize her point.

"I'm sorry Mary you have progressed too far; we can't give you an epidural." Judy said after stepping back out of Mary's swinging distance, she wouldn't put it past her patient to lash out at her physically.

"WHAT?" Mary asked in disbelief, she looked towards Marshall desperate for him to challenge her midwife.

"Sorry Mare, she is right, it probably wouldn't even have time to take effect" Marshall said looking apologetic.

"Un-fucking believable!" Mary cursed resting her head back against her pillow as the contraction eased off for a moment. Marshall new Mary's outburst wasn't really caused by anger it was just her way of coping with fear. Mary covered her face with her hands, feeling the panic rise inside her.

"I can't do this Marshall, I can't do this, I can't do this. I can't do this ugghh" Another contraction started less than a minute after the last causing Mary to groan. Mary's breathing became shallow again as she let the panic consume her. The monitors Mary was connected to started beeping obnoxiously loud.

"What's happening?" Marshall asked looking at Judy, alarmed by the beeping.

"She is panicking, her heart rate and blood pressures are rising and the baby is going into distress. We need to get her heart rate and breathing regulated; otherwise she will need an emergency c-section"

"No, No, I.. don't… want.. a... c-setion" Mary panted between labored breaths. "I'm not ready for this" Mary began to sob, tears running down her sweaty, flushed cheeks. "I can't do this, I gotta get out of here!" Mary pushed the blankets away and attempted to climb from the bed.

"Whoa, whoa, Mary you can't go anywhere" Marshall gently grabbed her by her shoulders, preventing her from making her escape.

"I can't, I can't, I can't" Mary repeated, clutching Marshall's jacket.

"Mary breathe, you need to breathe, this isn't good for your baby" Marshall ran his hands up and down her arms trying to comfort her.

""I can't, I don't know how, I'm not ready" Mary shook her head back and forth, another contraction rocked through her body, not helping her panic level.

"Marshall you need to calm her down, otherwise I am going to have to take her to the O.R" Judy said mater-of-factley.

"Ok let me try something." Marshall gently lifted his partner moving her over to one side of the small hospital bed. Mary didn't even notice, in her terrified state she just continued to shake her head, muttering to herself. Judy continued to watch Mary's vital stats, hoping that whatever the tall lanky man had planned, worked.

Marshall kicked of his shoes and then sat down on the free side of the bed, next to Mary. He silently prayed that his next actions didn't get him killed. Before Mary even noticed his presence he gently lifted her placing her between his legs, so her back rested snuggly against his chest.

"What are you doing?" Mary asked resisting him slightly.

"Just relax Mary" Marshall tenderly pressed a hand on either side of Mary's bulging stomach and lightly rubbed soothing circles. "Just relax". Mary finally breathed in and out deeply, feeling her body relax into Marshalls. She closed her eyes, allowing her head to lull against Marshall's chest, enjoying the warmth and comfort he provided.

"Her blood pressure, is returning to normal and the baby is no longer in distress, whatever you are doing, keep doing it" Judy sighed after a few moments, relieved that both her patients were out of danger for the time being.

"I know this is scary, Mare, I know you are worried about what happens after your baby is born, but right now I want you to just concentrate on here and now, don't worry about what comes next, one thing at a time ok?" Mary just nodded her agreement.

"That's my girl" Marshall smiled, his own heart rate returning to normal now that Mary was relaxing. He continued his soft caresses of her stomach.

Mary was lightly sleeping against Marshall, relieved to have a few minutes to rest and re-group. Judy had told Mary that she was in the 'resting phase' of labour, that typically occurs when the women is fully dilated and experiences a break in contractions anywhere from five minutes to thirty minutes.

"I am going to go check on the NICU team and make sure they are ready for your baby" Judy excused herself from the room after instructing an assistant to page her if anything happened.

Marshall couldn't help the way his breath hitched at the feel of Mary's arm sliding across his chest to wrap around his neck, or the way his skin broke out in goose bumps when felt her warm breath on his skin as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. Marshall reveled in the feeling of Mary's warm body pressed against his as he held her close. He felt a twinge of guilt when he thought of Abigail, and how holding her had never felt as perfect and right as holding Mary. He knew what he was feeling for his partner was not only wrong and dangerous; he was in a serious relationship, and Mary was having another man's child. There was also the fact that he had poured his heart out to her once before, and she had run off to Mexico with the first 'cowboy' that came long. Breaking his heart.

Marshall rubbed slow circles along Mary's back, glad that she was taking the opportunity to rest. Marshall let his eyes close, not planning on falling asleep, however the warmth from Mary and her even breathing, quickly lulled him to sleep.

Thanks for reading.

Next chapter- Somehow Jinx and Mark find their way into Mary's room… oh oh that can't be good.